LABOUR CRITICAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19378, 16 July 1937, Page 6

LABOUR CRITICAL

PROPOSALS FOR SPAIN 'SURRENDER TO FASCISTS' HOUSE DEBATE WANTED CABINET INTENTIONS (Eire. Tel. Copyright United Press Assn.) (Reed. July 10, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 15. During the debate in the House of Commons on the adjournment, the Labour Party leader, Major C. R. Attlee, declared that tho Government's proposals in respect to the restoration of the control of the non intervention in the civil war in Spain were ill-conceived and dangerous. He considered that they would only produce another of those cases in which, under the pretence making the non-intervention effective, the rebel leader General Franco had been given an advantage. The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, in attempting to reconcile the irreconcilable only surrendered to the demands of the Fascist Powers, said Major Attlee.

lie contended that the non-inter-vention restrictions were always rigorously enforced against the Spanish Government, including munitions, of which Italy piled in quantities to General Franco. Similarly Signor Mussolini poured in masses of volunteers, while only action "by the House of Commons prevented Britain from blockading Bilbao on General Franco's behalf. Hitler and Mussolini Major Attlee considered that the proposals to grant General Franco belligerent rights were made in order to please Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini.

Major Attlee asked Mr. Eden whether he would withdraw at tomorrow's meeting of the non-inter-vention committee "this proposal for the recognition of General Franco until after the complete withdrawal of foreign nationals."

Mr: Eden, in reply, reminded Major Attlee of the circumstances in which the British Government had been entrusted with an international mandale to seek agreement on a solution of the present difficulties. lie said that there could be no question of any modification of the proposals, which the committee itself had not yet considered. lie was sure that the House would not wish to jeopardise in advance the cause of international appeasement which the proposals had been designed lo further. Major Atlloe moved for a debate on the subject of "the declared intention of the Government to make the non-intervention committee proposals which contemplate the granting of belligerent rights to General Franco and which do not make effective provision for the complete cessation of foreign intervention in Spain."

The Speaker of the House asked if Major Attlee had the support of the House and Labour members rose in a body to signify their assent. Leave was then granted.

WORKABLE PROPOSALS MIGHT SHORTEN WAR BRITISH PRESS COMMENT (British Officinl Wireless.) Reed. 2 p.m RUGBY. July 15. There has been a favourable press reception on the whole to the British proposals regarding the agreement for non-intervention in the Spanish civil war.

The Times describes the proposals as forming a workable plan. "All of the non-intervention States have now the chance of proving the sincerity of their professions and applying further the most effective of the methods for shortening the conflict, which is to withdraw their nationals from Spain." says The Times. "In no other way can the policy of non-intervention truly and honestly deserve its name. This may be the last chance of making it real and effective."

The Morning Post says that whether the plan achieves its full purpose or not it affords a practical buffer against a more dangerous clash of rivalries and antagonism and adds: "It would be rash to assume that this country will get any thanks for such disinterested labour." The Manchester Guardian describes the plan as an honest attempt to find a compromise.

The Daily Herald says that as an essay in compromise the plan is ingenious, but the Daily Herald sees no evidence to suggest that a spirit of international co-operation will be forthcoming, and without that, it says the scheme will fail. The Daily Herald adds that the Labour Party prefers to face frankly and immediately the fact that the non-interven-tion plan has failed and should be scrapped without further delay. So far foreign comment upon the British plan has been somewhat noncommilal, but on the whole is not unfavourable. It is expected that most of the representatives at to-morrow's meeting of the non-intervention committee will be in a position to indicate, on behalf of their Governments, at least preliminary observations on the scheme.

Members of the British Labour Opposition hold that the withdrawal of foreign nationals should be completed before belligerent rights are accorded.

GOING FOR REFUGEES BRITISH silll' STOPPED (I'.ritish Official Wireless.) Reed. 2 p.m. RUGBY, July 15. It is stated that the British steamer Molton, which was stopped by a rebel cruiser oil (he coast of Spain, was carrying no cargo. The Daily Telegraph says that she had been chartered by the Spanish Government since the end of June for the evacuation of refugees, and is believed to have been proceeding to Santander for that purpose when she was shelled. Lieut-Colonel J. J. Llewellyn, in reply to a question in the House of Commons, said that it; was the policy of the British Government to afford no protection in territorial waters,